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Impact Lab has become one of the world’s most influential compendiums of future trends, emerging technology, and futurist thinking. And we throw in a few other articles that don’t fall into these categories but catch our attention anyway.

Since our reader base is quite different than virtually every other news site on the Internet, we thought it was important for you to see which of our articles from 2015 were gaining the most attention.

NOTE: This is an unusual and eclectic assortment of articles that will surprise even our most avid followers.

Michigan State University researchers have developed a transparent solar cell capable of being used as a replacement for windows. Due to the fact traditional solar panels absorb light and convert it into energy, this concept was once deemed impossible as transparent surfaces are not capable of absorbing light.

Oregon State University researchers have discovered a new link between cognitive functioning and gut bacteria. In recent years the science involving bacteria in the gut and its link to health and cognitive functioning has boomed. Parkinson’s disease has even been linked to changes in gut bacteria. Published in the journal Neuroscience, a new study shows that diets high in fat and sugar are probably impacting cognitive functioning, because of their impact on the type of bacteria that thrive on high-fat and high-sugar diets.

The question that every major food brand is wrestling with right now: What do millennials want? An article recently in Forbes clears up why, ”There are 80 million millennials in America alone and they represent about a fourth of the entire population, with$200 billion in annual buying power.”

Man-made artificial DNA strands that mimic deadly diseases such as the flu, Ebola, cancer, and HIV have recently been created by scientists. Researchers are claiming that the treatments could be the key to defeating these killer diseases. Human trials have already begun and results are with researchers saying the results are promising.

Over the past 50 years, getting to space hasn’t become any easier technically speaking. It still requires using huge rockets to create a massive enough amount of force to push a payload beyond the grip of Earth’s gravity. Enter the concept of the space elevator, which uses much simpler gravity-defying technologies to access space.

The Tesla brand is a perfect example of the current trend of the best designed products come with a hefty price point. Elon Musk understands that many people make great sacrifices to purchase one of Tesla’s incredible sexy electric cars. Now in an attempt to ease the burden, and perhaps expand their market share, Tesla unveiled plans for their next ground-breaking innovation: a plug-in hybrid mobile home.

Being able to predict future job positions that will be in demand and that will command a reasonable living wage - can mean the difference between having a vibrant career and being consigned to the scrap heap before your time. What are the likely future employment trends and what does it mean for career planning?

This invention could possibly modify civilization as we know it: Presented by Skunk Works, , the stealth experimental technology section of Lockheed Martin, a compact fusion reactor about the size of a jet engine, capable of powering airplanes, most likely spaceships, and cities.

For many more people that realize it, electric cars are already adequate for their needs and better than a gasmobile for their bank account and quality of life. However, it often isn’t good enough for disruptive technology to be better than the incumbents. It has to be much better. The target for electric cars, in order to meet that challenge, is a very long-range and affordable electric car. That would bring electric car convenience to another level, and leave gasmobiles with not a single actual advantage over electric cars, compared to nearly 10 for electric cars.